Areva Hires Abraham, Former Energy Czar, Wall Street Journal

01/01/06

Former Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham will join Areva Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of the French-owned nuclear company Areva SA, as chairman of its board, the company said.

Areva has been aggressively marketing its advanced-design power reactor to American utilities and hopes Mr. Abraham, although he will hold a nonexecutive position, will help that cause as board chairman.

Mr. Abraham, a former senator from Michigan, served as President Bush's energy secretary during the president's first term. After leaving the administration in January 2005, he began - and will continue to head - a consulting business in Washington that focuses on energy issues.